While STEM Jobs Grow, Access Barriers Remain for U.S. Students
By SeLen Ozturk/eMS
Although the U.S. is a STEM world leader, classroom engagement barriers remain for girls, low-income students and those of color.
SAN FRANCISCO, CA -- STEM engagement is closely connected to career and economic mobility, as U.S. workers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics earn over $100,000 a year, compared to the overall wage average of $46,000.
“This is not only an economic issue but a civil rights issue for the lowincome students, those of color and girls who don’t have access to STEM courses and support programs, and so are underrepresented in STEM careers,” said Dr. Louis Freedberg, interim CEO of EdSource.
While these jobs are projected to grow nearly twice as fast as other U.S. jobs in the next decade, roughly 43% of U.S. STEM workers come from abroad.
The sector’s workforce is closely tied to higher education.
STEM workers are twice as likely as others to have a bachelor’s degree or higher — 67% compared to 34%. Furthermore, about three quarters of U.S. workers with a higher degree hold one in a STEM field.
“Early interest in math and science is a key indicator of whether students pursue STEM,” continued Freedberg. “By high school, there’s disproportionate enrollment in advanced or even basic STEM classes. We have to start addressing these gaps
early … We have to show students that what they’re learning in the classroom is relevant to their careers, that it’s not just abstract.”
A success story in Compton Compton Unified School District (CUSD), in southern Los Angeles County, has pioneered a breakthrough model in having students excel in STEM.
The portion of its heavily lowincome, over 98% Black and Latino
student body choosing STEM careers has more than doubled from 24% to 52% over the last decade, while the district graduation rate has soared over 90% — above the national average of 87%.
Among employed adults aged 25 and older, Black workers represent 9% of all STEM jobs against 11% of all jobs, while Hispanic workers represent 8% of STEM jobs against 17% of all jobs, according to 2021 Pew data.
In comparison, Asian workers represent 13% of STEM jobs against 6% of all jobs, and White workers represent 67% of STEM jobs against 63% of all jobs.
“A decade ago, we decided there should not be any reason why students coming out of Compton should not have the opportunities that students have in wealthier districts,” said Dr. Darin Brawley, CUSD Superintendent since 2012. “So we joined the Digital
Promise League of Innovative Schools and implemented STEM opportunities that exceed any public school district around.”
These opportunities include preschool and grade school Lego robotics; middle and high school coding, math and video game design projects; courses in 3D printing, drone aviation, e-sports, circuitry design, podcasting, engineering, VR and AI; STEM teacher training; and vocational
By y ugeL LOSOrata
SAN DIEGO, CA -- The decision to move to France for a time paid off well for San Diego native Tracy Santoni. There she met the love of her life Dominique, and discovered for herself some great French dishes. She came back home with him and the dishes became their business venture - christened in San Diego County farmers markets as La Flamme Francaise.
The food brand is offering traditional Flamme (pronounced as “Flam”), a very popular dish in Northern France, Germany and Switzerland that reached Southern California upon her initiative to introduce it. And then its Quiche, the “fluffiest” French tart of its kind which quickly became their signature offering, made by who else but her business and romantic partner Dominique Santoni, a chef
from Lorraine, France where the dish originated.
Tracy flew into France in 2014 and stayed there for eight years, way longer than her initial plan to just try it out for a year. She became a foodie in Europe while riding her motorcycle all over France, Italy, and Switzerland. Yes, she became known around as the American woman traveling alone on a Moto Guzzi! She was featured in Italian magazines, revealing that she was riding by herself at age nine and she still has her grandfather’s motorcycles.
“When we arrived from France, our first move was to open a restaurant. I had thought that fast food French Style would do well,” Tracy recalled. Something happened that led her to farmers markets. She said, “After several months we struggled to attract customers. We decided to start doing Farmers Markets to familiarize the people with our product. In La Mesa
was our first attempt, and we sold more at the market in four hours than we did in 12 hours in a restaurant.”
La Flamme Francaise is now participating in four such markets: Saturdays at the Del Mar Farmers (12-4 pm), Sundays at the La Jolla Open Aire Market (9 am-1 pm) and the Rancho Santa Fe Market (9:30 am-2 pm), and every third Sunday of the month in Imperial Beach Suncoast Market Co-op.
“Farmers Markets are frequented by foodies. They love trying new and different dishes, and they are often looking for healthy alternatives to standard offerings,” observed the San Diegan who experienced living in a French commune called Cabris and studied French at the local Alliance Francaise.
As the traditional Flamme (formally called Tarte Flambée) with garlic and mushrooms had become a quick bestseller for their stalls, with customers coming back for it every week, their version of the familiar dish Quiche became their ultimate claim to fame. Chef Dom is now known in the community as the man who does the best version of it, as they sell out each week. Other additions to the La Flamme Francaise menu are taking off fast as well, like the Macarons and the dessert favorite Lavender Crème Brûlée.
The so to speak "Queen of the Quiche" shared, “Dom’s using his grandmother’s recipe and people tell us it is the fluffiest quiche they have ever had.”
She added, “Recently several of our regular customers came from the Paris Olympics and said they had
By
Shauni LyLeS/CSDCO
SAN DIEGO, CA -- San Diego County releases its 2023 annual Crop Report showing totals and trends in local agriculture. So, what tops the list?
Nursery & Cut Flower products were 71% of the total agricultural value, followed by Fruit & Nuts group that included crops such as avocados and citrus.
Bedding Plants, Color, Perennials, Cacti & Succulents continue to reign supreme for the third year in a row, bringing in a total of $396,623,341, which is 24% of the total value of agriculture production in the county.
The second most valuable group is Ornamental Trees and Shrubs, valued at $383,114,393, equaling 23% of the region’s overall agricultural production value.
The report also shows total production is $1.66 billion in value, which is about $120 million less than 2022. This change is mainly due to the drop in value of Bedding Plants, Color, Perennials, Cacti & Succulents.
The report gives a yearly snapshot of agriculture’s contribution to the region’s economy, despite longstanding challenges like the region’s inclement weather, rising water costs, wildfires, freezes and pests.
Did you know San Diego has 4,031 farms, 94% of which are family farms? It ranks 6th in the United States for the number of farms and has the most number of small farms in the state. San Diego County ranks No. 1 in Nursery, greenhouse, floriculture and sod in
California and No. 2 in the United States.
Even though the Crop Report covering the County’s 2023 growing season shows value declined, it also had some positive changes. The groups this year that thrived were Field Crops, Apiary Products and Forest Products.
Apiary Products were valued at $4,749,866, a 47% increase from last year. The increase is mainly due to an increase of 264% in Honey and Beeswax production, caused by an increase in rainfall. Pollinations dropped 8% because there were fewer colonies used for these services.
Field Crops’ value increased to $4,489,288, which is 14% higher than last year. The growth in the group’s overall value was mainly due to Field, Other, which increased by 44% in value due to an increase in acres.
training and early certification for students through partnerships with companies including IBM, Verizon, Boeing, RTX and Apple.
“We’re laying to rest the old adage from businesses that schools are not preparing their students for the jobs out there, for the global economy,” said Brawley.
“Can this be replicated? Yes,” he continued. “It’s crucial that students are interested in multiple areas, like coding, drones and e-Sports … Also, 98% of our parents want their students to have STEM access. It’s crucial that the parents love what’s happening.”
“Growing up, everybody in my family would steer me towards another career than STEM … I didn’t really think I would have been able to make it here, but here I am, doing what I want to do, as the first in my generation to go to college,” said Isis Cadena Nuñez, a graduate of Compton Early College High School (CECHS) and a UC Santa Cruz freshman double majoring in marine biology and environmental
The groups Nursery & Cut Flower Products, Fruit & Nut Products, Vegetable & Vine Crops and Livestock & Poultry decreased in value. This drop was due to lower acreage, demand of products, and prices.
Other highlights from the report, compared to last year, include: The value of Apples spiked by 73% due to higher profits as growers reported a recovery from last year’s 52% drop due to poor weather. The overall value of Citrus increased by 5% compared to last year despite a 3% decrease in acres. All Citrus crops except Oranges increased in value. Lemons and Kumquats both rose by 21%, while Tangerines, Tangelos rose by 10%. The Citrus value growth is due to increased prices. Fruit & Nut Crops’ value decreased to $292,644,242, a 4% drop from the previous year, due to decreased acres and prices The value of Avocados decreased due to lower acreage, production, and prices.
The Pampered Pinay Lifestyle: Above
By Francine Maigue
My friends, the world as we know it continues to shift a mile a minute. Families far and near work to survive life altering changes. I can only imagine the well of courage they must each tap into to face challenges, storms man-made and otherwise, and sustain a sense of hope, rise each day and, still, move forward.
The news is hard to watch. The stories, hard to hear. But it's true - realities have been rocked, and homes and dreams, destroyed. Where else can we be but here for each other? We can't run from the difficult conversations. We must work through them. We share this one life. We share this one world. The peace and joy of one affects us all. I believe in the infinite potential of people to grow...in understanding, in strength. Above all -- in empathy. If we stopped, even for just a moment to put ourselves in the shoes of those on the receiving end of grief, hate and tragedy, we'd allow for the power of generosity, comfort and support. We'd set a domino effect
All -- Empathy
of positive, productive events and life experiences into motion. That's not naïveté. Given each seemingly insurmountable dose of adversity that's pushed us to the days we face, together...I still believe in us and our ability to rise up hand in hand.
Compassion in tow, get up, and let's go
Our world is spinning in spirals
Some up and some down, lives moved about More than fake news gone viral Reality skewed, debates gone awry Are there prayers we can all agree on? For safety and calm, no longer guns drawn Understanding and facts to grow on
Children -- they see, they hear and they learn To judge, mock or help heal, feel Careful examples we all need to be Or their kind human hearts we shall steal
The timing? It's now! We have none to waste! Let's have the tough talks and set a new stage Decisions to make and band aids to rip Off, off and off to make some real change
Tell me your fears, and I'll tell you mine Our worries, they have weight and worth Different, defiant, misled and maligned But still we all share just one Earth
Hands open, minds wide, sleeves rolled, breaths taken To live to build bridges is a privilege and blessing
See the pain, feel the need, and act in good faith Empathy is a chance worth taking.
I repeat... Empathy is a chance worth taking
Meet Randi Castle-Salgado NC District 2 Council candidate
NATIONAL CITY, CA -- Hello!
My name is Randi Castle-Salgado, and I am running for City Council to represent the vibrant and diverse community of District 2. Today, I stand before you with a vision and a commitment to address the issues that matter most to our neighborhood. Together, we can build a safer, more affordable, and economically thriving community for all.
First and foremost, public safety is a cornerstone of a strong and healthy community. Our families deserve to feel safe in their homes, schools, and streets. I am committed to working closely with our dedicated law enforcement officers to ensure they have the resources and support they need to keep us safe. But public safety is more than just policing; it's about investing in community programs that prevent crime before it starts. I will advocate for youth engagement initiatives, mental health services, and neighborhood watch programs that empower residents to take an active role in keeping our community secure.
Affordable housing is another critical issue that affects so many of us in District 2 and all of National
City. Too many families are struggling to make ends meet, facing skyrocketing rents and the threat of displacement. Having to choose between eating or having a roof over their heads. As a Realtor and Housing advocate, I believe that housing is a human right, and I am dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to truly affordable and quality housing. I will push for policies that promote the development of housing units including both “for sale” as well as affordable housing while providing assistance to first-time homebuyers, and shared equity programs to build generational wealth. We must work together to create a community where everyone can afford to live and thrive.
Economic growth is essential for the prosperity of our district and city. We need to attract businesses that not only bring in tax revenue but also provide good-paying jobs for our residents. I will work tirelessly to create an environment that encourages businesses to invest in our community. This means cutting red tape, providing incentives for local entrepreneurs, and ensuring that our infrastructure can support new
developments. By bringing in new businesses and supporting existing ones, we can generate the revenue needed to fund vital public services without overburdening our residents with additional taxes, as proposed by my opponent.
I believe that our community's strength lies in its diversity and its resilience. We are a district of hardworking families, small business owners, and passionate individuals who want the best for their children and neighbors.
As your City Council representative, I will listen to your concerns, advocate for your needs, and work tirelessly to create a better future for all of us.
Always putting People Over Politics.
In closing, I ask for your support and your vote. Together, we can make National City a safer, more affordable, and economically vibrant place to live. Let's build a community where everyone has the opportunity to succeed, where our streets are safe, our housing is affordable, and our economy is thriving.
Thank you, and let's move National City forward together.
tried quiche all over France, and then claimed that the best quiche is in San Diego made by a chef from Lorraine. These comments really made our day.”
The couple’s routine proved
effective, having spent a lot of time together when working, with Dom making the quiche and the crusts for the Tarte Flambées while she makes the toppings and cuts the veggies. He makes the macaron shells, she does the ganache.
Dom’s the creative, while Tracy’s dealing with the administrative side. The woman who met her true love who didn’t speak English prior to finding her said, “We have grown so much together in our short two years here in the US. We really count on each other and enjoy each other’s company.”
It was partly the death of her mother and an uncle’s health issues that brought her back to San Diego.
“I love San Diego,” she expressed, “It was the best place for me to grow up. You’ll never find weather as nice as this anywhere else. You don’t realize that until you move away.”
She, too, has nice things to say about La Flamme Francaise’s huge Filipino-American following which they considered among their best customers, with Chef Dominique labeling them as “fine bouche, meaning, as she put it, “having a discerning palate.”
“We love seeing them,” she said, “Susan Delos Santos (publisher of The Filipino Press) was also a huge help. She did a lot to promote us, and quite selflessly. She is a dynamic presence!”
La Flamme Francaise is branching out into catering, and the business is relatively doing great. Thanks to Tracy’s entrepreneurial spirit, evident from her running a San Diego recording studio for nearly 20 years and doing business teaching in France. They made it out of a low point during their restaurant phase when they were down to their last $3,000.
In the kitchen, the key lies in that everything is done handmade. She pointed out, “We grate the cheese, we crack the eggs, we make the crusts by hand. Nothing is processed or purchased ready-made."
"Frankly," she closed out, "our recipes are not complicated, just fresh and authentic like you would get in France.”
Dominique and Tracy Santoni
FLAMME Continued from page 1
Best Quiche made by French chef Dominique
BLESSED JUSTO TAKAYAMA: THE JAPANESE SAMURAI WHO BECAME A SAINT AND LIVED HIS LIFE WITH SO MUCH CONNECTION WITH OUR BELOVED PHILIPPINES
SAN DIEGO, Calif. – You may think the words “saint” and “samurai,” don’t go in the same sentence. The ancient warrior class of Japan – while enjoying legendary status for its skill and devotion –functioned within a pagan society and according to its ideal.
Right?
Let me introduce you to the Blessed Justo Takayama Ukon, often called Dom Justo. Not only was he a devout Catholic – he possibly lived out the ideals of the samurai better than anyone had before him.
The samurai were steadfastly dedicated to their code of honor.
A major facet of this body of law was absolute devotion to one’s lord in the face of any trial or personal suffering – even to the sacrifice of one’s own life. Dom Justo had to make many difficult decisions throughout an illustrious career, and in every instance, he obeyed and honored his Lord above all – even when it eventually did cost him his life.
Takayama Hikogoro was born into a samurai family in 1552, just after the Jesuits had arrived in Japan. His father was the “daimyo” (lord) of a small castle. The family was well-respected and enjoyed connection with powerful lords and warriors.
Eventually the family became Catholic – converted by the eloquence of a half-blind wandering minstrel- when Hikogoro was eleven. Hikogoro took the name of Justo, after St. Justin Martyr.
Justo’s father retired from public service when Justo was twenty-one, entrusting the responsibilities of daimyo to the young samurai.
Holding various important positions during the ensuing years, Dom Justo was a great success as a warrior and leader – and also as a model Christian. Though he had grown lukewarm in his Faith during his adolescence, his zeal was renewed as a young man after which he strove to enable the spread of Christianity in Japan. Thousands were baptized due to his efforts, and he has helped build a seminary. He himself advanced steadily to a high degree of prayer and virtue.
The lords under whom Dom Justo served were often friendly to his ambitions and allowed him to practice his faith and evangelize freely. But some were less so inclined.
Things came to a head under the chancellor Hideyoshi, with whom Justo had an often-cordial relationship but who eventually forced him to choose between his faith and his service to Hideyoshi. Justo chose his faith. He lost his title, his territories, and his fortunes – but he kept his honor, for he knew where true virtue lay.
Dom Justo then dedicated himself into spiritual and apostolic works. Hideyoshi did no further
harm to him but maintained his anti-Christian attitude; it was under him that the “Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan” met their cruel end on February 5th, 1597. After Hideyoshi’s death, Dom Justo enjoyed several years of peace, during which he was able to regain some of what he had lost and practice his faith without interference. But in 1614 the powerful Lord Ieyasu (who outranked Justo and his local, Christianity-friendly daimyo) expelled the Christian missionaries and their leaders, including Justo. Dom Justo and his family went into exile in Manila and, some forty days later, on February 3rd, 1615, the great Christian samurai died. Because his death was caused by the suffering he endured in banishment, he was declared a martyr in 2016, and beatified the following year in Osaka, Japan.
There are a few remarkable things that I think in reading about him and his beatification. First of all, the fact that he was a samurai. How cool is that?! He was from the hereditary military nobility. The samurai were soldiers and warriors. It is interesting, isn’t it, how many Catholic saints were soldiers: We think of St. Martin of Tours, we think of St. Ignatius of Loyola, we even opine of St. Joan of Arc, a warrior, or Blessed Charles de Foucauld who was canonized by Pope Francis. Secondly, Ukon is the first Japanese to be declared a Blessed as an individual, not among a group of martyrs i.e. the Twenty-Six Martyrs of Japan. Blessed Takayama is an example of holiness and resistance to injustice. He did not allow the unjust rules of persecution of Christians to discourage him. He remained faithful to his commitment to Jesus, to his love for our Lady. Last, but not least –the petition for canonization did not come from within Japan, but from the Archdiocese of Manila (That’s right…in our beloved old homeland – the Philippines!) where Ukon died as a Christian exiled from Japan. I think that Blessed Takayama is also for us a good example of the importance and indeed, the precious quality of refugees and migrants. Because he was literally a refugee from Japan who came to our old country on a boat.
A website dedicated to Ukon’s cause for canonization reports that the beatification Mass was a beautiful cross-cultural celebration with pilgrims from Japan, Korea, the Philippines and other parts of Asia. A 1,000-member choir sang a Filipino hymn. Pictures of the celebration can be found here: Please click on https://takayamaukon.com/ the-beatification-of-blessed-justotakayama-ukon/.
If you snap on the link for the photographs, etc. – you will note that all the celebrants are wearing red. Blessed Justo’s willingness to accept exile rather than renounce his
faith was equivalent to martyrdom. Possibly a rare exception, but some commentators see it as a part of a movement to expand the meaning of martyrdom. As evidence of this motion, please see also the expanded definition of martyrdom that resulted in the beatification of Blessed Oscar Romero, a prelate of the Catholic Church in El Salvador. Interestingly, the lay elder holding the Cardinal’s crozier in the pictures, Rev. Peter Hoan Duc Loi, was a transitional deacon for the Hiroshima Diocese, came to Japan as a seminarian and was later ordained a Catholic priest.
I believe some years back the Bishops of Japan appealed to seminarians in Vietnam, askingWould anyone like to volunteer to work in Japan? Rev. Peter Hoan Duc Loi was one of those who responded, and after a Japanese language study at a university there, the Vietnamese priest completed his formation at the national seminary over there. There are also a handful of Korean priests and some seminarians who came after a similar appeal.
Truly, there are sizeable Korean and Vietnamese Catholic communities in Japan and both groups of people are proving to be a source of vocations to the priesthood and the religious life over there.
In a time of rising isolationism in many parts of the world, I say this celebration seems to stand boldly as a reminder of the boundedness that Christians of all nations share in our baptism and faith. I add that it
The 4th Annual San Diego Filipino Film Festival and how I found my story
By Chantal l ania
NATIONAL CITY, CA -- I witnessed a grandma mistaking her grandson for her ex-husband, and then I cried. Other spectacles I had the privilege to see in my first film festival experience include maggots eating a dead crow, a nurse making bread while talking to a dying woman, siblings bonding over a murder case, a correlation between a buzzcut and the American Dream, and the unveiling of a historical piece whose existence had been only a rumor. Every short in the program I attended broadened my perspective on its theme, the diaspora of Filipino people disconnected from their motherland, the Philippines. As a Filipino American, I had never been in touch with my ancestry because not for a moment did my environment encourage me to learn more about the side of my identity that came from outside the U.S. Until I attended Southwestern College and began taking Asian American Media and Film, did I push myself into the opportunity to go to the San Diego Filipino Film Festival and reconnect with "myself.”
All films coped with mental anguish from loss, death, and being disconnected from your sense of self. The films showcased the beauty and
ugly at the core of their conflicts, like being pressured by society to achieve stability and perfection or the dark sides of Filipino history not commonly taught in American schools. It is done by going out of the comfort zone and working through the pain, defying expectations, and thinking about what we should choose to be free. At the theater, the audience and I watched, laughed, cried, and became inspired by what was created by the filmmakers and the stories they've made. After the program's end, I left wishing I'd been there for the entire festival. I felt relieved to know that there are people like me who don't speak Tagalog and struggle with not understanding relatives who grew up in the Philippines because family is the heart of Filipino culture.
Sitting with strangers who are part of my community has been a stepping stone to achieving what I really want: a place of belonging and not being alone. My family is a core part of who I am, but I ignore them when I try to figure things out on my own. Consequently, I always needed an endless amount of satisfying answers. There's plenty to unpack in my parents' backgrounds, but diving deep to understand them would help me understand myself and my place in the world. Learning how our identities shape our perspectives,
influence our choices, and anchor us in times of anxiety, dread, or fear may help me get the connections I was looking for.
I’d like to highlight “Buzz Cut” (directed by Kiersten Villanueva) for shedding light on the protest movements behind Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School in Union City, CA, and the unexpected premiere of “Fidel” (directed by Luke Lace). Both have uniquely conveyed that simple actions get misunderstood as meaningless when it comes to changing the world and one’s own growth as a person.
Chantal Lania is a Biology major at Southwestern College, part of the Sangam Learning Community, and taking Asian American Media & Film with Prof. J.A. Ruanto-Ramirez. Lania is a resident of Chula Vista, CA.
Jesse T. Reyes
Filipino Potpourri
suffering repression in Japan, a saint from Manila, who was originally from Spain – San Pedro Bautista –went from there to Japan, with his companions and continued the work of evangelization.
As we know, San Pedro Bautista himself, after having founded hospitals and churches in Japan was martyred for the faith in February of 1597 in Nagasaki. San Pedro Bautista and twenty-five other Christian Catholics – “the TwentySix Martyrs of Japan” -were crucified in Nagasaki in 1597.
That is the context in which our Blessed Takayama was living then in Japan. He had been baptized into the faith as a young boy – he was twelve years old in 1564 - so just as this persecution was beginning –and he experienced that oppression very, very personally.
in Manila, the Lord called him to his heavenly reward on the 3rd of February of 1615, and was buried in the Jesuit Church in the southern part of the walled city in Intramuros. In Rome, Pope Francis, while reflecting with the general audience on the 8 February 2017 beatification said this: “Yesterday, in Osaka, Japan, Justo Takayama Ukon, a faithful Japanese layman martyred in Manila in 1615, was beatified. Rather than compromise, he renounced honors and comforts, accepting humiliation and exile. He remained faithful to Christ and to the Gospel; for this reason, he represents an admirable example of fortitude in the faith and dedication in charity.”
did not matter to our “kababayans” who took him in - in that Ukon was Japanese, nor that he lived in Manila for only some forty days until he died. That he was a witness for all Christians was good enough for Filipinos to desire that he be raised to sainthood just about 409 years after his death, making a Japanese Christian the first Catholic to be presented to the Vatican for canonization by the Archdiocese of Manila.
No doubts about it, the story of Blessed Justo Takayama is intimately connected to the story of the evangelization of Japan. And also, of course, to the chronicle of the Catholic Church in the Philippines.
The Catholic faith had arrived in Japan, in Nagasaki, by means of St. Francis Xavier and the Jesuits in the 1540s. There, it briefly flourished and was very effective in evangelization. Over 100,000 people became Catholic in a short time in Japan in the 1540s and the 1550s, including many people from the noble class, from the landowning sect.
But the faith began to provoke also resentment and opposition. And then beginning in the 1560s, there were series of edicts issued by the emperor, restricting and finally banishing Christianity and Catholicism in Japan, beginning in the 1560s but increasingly into the 1580s.
There we begin to see the connection with the Philippines because in 1593, during the time in which the Catholic faith was
As I have stated earlier above, he was from the ruling class. He was from the military class. In fact, he was a samurai! A man of great nobility, of great human qualities. And he and his family had become Christians. His parents passed the faith on to him.
He, at the beginning of his Christian life, was not terribly devout, and then later on, he experienced a kind of reconversion, became very, very fervent.
He then began to suffer this repression, this persecution; but as I have also indicated above, he was an incredibly effective evangelizer.
Because of the nobility of his character, because of the beauty of his person, because of the convincing power of his example, many Japanese, even in the midst of this time of opposition and deep harassment, were becoming Catholics.
So finally, in 1614 – quite later on, almost 50 years after he had become a Catholic through baptism – he was exiled from Japan, with something like 300 other Japanese Christians and some foreign missionaries. They were loaded onto a ship, departing from Nagasaki in November of 1614, and arrived in Manila more than a month later, on December 21, 1614.
Because of the prominent figure of Blessed Takayama, he was received by the GovernorGeneral Juan de Silva in Manila with high honors. But the voyage was somewhat difficult and he had become quite sick and ill during the journey; he then, approximately forty-four days after his arrival
Regal Edwards Mira
For me, personally - the story of 16th century Catholic evangelization in Japan (with its remarkably deep Philippine relation) is a fascinating topic. If you – my dear folk – haven’t already seen it, Akira Kurosawa’s film “Kagemusha” contains implicit and explicit references to this period in world history.
It can even raise up such questions as: Is Blessed Justo a confessor?
A confessor is a holy person who dies a peaceful death, rather than one by violence. I sometimes wonder if these distinctions are as important nowadays. This might be a positive development since the most influential aspect of Blessed Justo and the life of every Christian is discipleship, and not necessarily the circumstances of our death. Or someone else may say that you don’t have to be a samurai to imitate Blessed Justo as a warrior of Christ -- St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians reminds us to “put on the full armor of God, taking the helmet of salvation, the shield of faith, and the sword of the Spirit.”
What does this all mean?
Blessed Takayama is a saint who later on beatified, and if God willing, canonized soon! So, I say let us remember, reflect, and also be proud of the Christian spirit back in our beloved old homeland – the Philippines – of receiving immigrants and people who need shelter and protection. It’s something that Pope Francis is constantly reminding us of. We see this example in the 17th Century, in the 1600s, an example that remains valid for us even more today in our own world.
Mabuhay!
May God bless us all!!
Mesa Proudly Hosts Premieres and Key Events at the 25th San Diego Asian Film Festival
SAN DIEGO, CA -- In partnership with Pacific Arts Movement (Pac Arts), Regal Edwards Mira Mesa will once again take center stage as a key venue for the 25th Annual San Diego Asian Film Festival (SDAFF), running from November 7 - 16, 2024. Located in the heart of Mira Mesa, Regal Edwards Mira Mesa will host the festival's centerpiece film and screen over 170 films, furthering its dedication to showcasing the best of Asian and Asian American cinema.
Celebrating its 25th anniversary, the San Diego Asian Film Festival is the largest showcase of Asian cinema on the West Coast. This year, the festival will feature an expansive lineup of over 170 films from more than 35 countries, in 35 different languages, with Regal Edwards Mira Mesa at the heart of the action. The festival boasts 24 premieres, including 2 world premieres, the highly anticipated Opening Night film Cells at Work! and the west coast premiere of the Centerpiece film All That We Love, starring Margaret Cho.
"We are beyond excited to bring the 25th anniversary edition of the San Diego Asian Film Festival to
Regal Edwards Mira Mesa," said Pacific Arts Movement Executive Director Alex Villafuerte. "This venue is part of a community that we have deep ties with, and we look forward to celebrating Asian and Asian American stories in a place that feels like home."
In addition to hosting a diverse array of films, Regal Edwards Mira Mesa will be the venue for more than 30 Q&A sessions with filmmakers, offering attendees an exclusive chance to hear directly from the creators behind these groundbreaking works. From heartfelt dramas to thrilling documentaries, the festival promises an unforgettable experience for cinephiles of all kinds.
“Regal is thrilled to be part of the San Diego Asian Film Festival’s 25th annual celebration at our theatre,” said Nikki Shellenberger, General Manager of Regal Mira Mesa. “We are honored to collaborate again to showcase the vibrant, diverse stories that make this festival so special. Here’s to another year of unforgettable films and cultural connections.”
ABOUT REGAL EDWARDS MIRA MESA: Regal, a subsidiary of the Cineworld Group, operates one of the largest and most geographically diverse theatre circuits in the United States, consisting of 5,774 screens in 425 theatres in 41 states along with the District of Columbia and Guam as of April 2024.
ABOUT THE SAN DIEGO ASIAN FILM FESTIVAL: The San Diego Asian Film Festival, presented by Pacific Arts Movement, is the largest and most comprehensive showcase of Asian and Asian American cinema on the West Coast. Now in its 25th year, SDAFF highlights the depth, diversity, and richness of Asian storytelling, bringing films from across the globe to San Diego for one of the most anticipated cultural events of the year.
Film lovers are encouraged to join at Regal Edwards Mira Mesa to enjoy the festival film lineup, as well as the special screening of New Wave on Closing Night, November 15. Tickets and festival passes are available online, with detailed information and the full film lineup at www.sdaff.org. For interviews and more information, please contact Carmela Prudencio at media@sdaff.org.
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Spiritual Life
The reward of compassion
Most loving God, there are moments in our lives when we withhold help to others because we are afraid to go beyond ourselves and other people’s perception. Give us a brave heart and a deep faith to help those who are behind bars. Imbue us with love so that we can get rid of our fears and prejudices that deters us from reaching out to those who are not like us or who are different from us. Cast away our fears and change our unyielding heart through the power of Your love. Amen.
I said this prayer after I read the following story.
In 1921 Lewis Lawes became the warden at Sing Sing Prison. No prison was tougher than Sing Sing during that time. But when Warden Lawes retired some 20 years later, that prison had become a humanitarian institution. Those who studied the system said credit for the change belonged to Lawes. But when he was asked about the transformation, he said; “I owe it all to my wonderful wife, Catherine who is buried outside the prison walls.” Catherine Lawes was a young mother with three small children when her husband became the warden. Everybody warned her from the beginning that she should never set foot inside the prison walls, but that didn’t stop Catherine. When the first prison basketball game was held, she
Aurora
S. Cudal-Rivera
My Personal Testimony
went walking into the gym with her three beautiful kids and she sat in the stands with the inmates. Her attitude was, “my husband and I are going to take care of these men and I believe they will take care of me! I don’t have to worry.” She insisted on getting acquainted with them and their records. She discovered one convicted murderer was blind so she paid him a visit. Holding his hand she said, “Do you read Braille?”. The prisoner asked, “ What’s Braille”. Then she taught him how to read. Years later he will weep in love for her. Later Catherine found a deafmute in prison. She went to school to learn how to use sign language. Many said that Catherine Lawes was the body of Jesus that came alive again in Sing Sing from 1921 to1937. Then Catherine was killed in a car accident. The next morning Lewis Lawes didn’t come to work,
so the acting warden took his place. It seemed almost instantly that the prison knew something was wrong. The following day, her body was resting in a casket in her home, three quarters of a mile from the prison. As the acting warden took his early morning walk he was shocked to see a large crowd of the toughest, hardest-looking criminals gathered like a herd of animals at the main gate. He came closer and he noted tears of grief and sadness. He knew how much they loved Catherine. He turned and face the men, “All right, men, you can go. Just be sure to check in tonight!. Then he opened the gate and a parade of criminals walked without a guard, the three-quarters of a mile to stand in line to pay their final respects to Catherine Lawes. And every one of them checked back in. Every one.”
Could we be like Catherine? I wonder.
A new breed of Christian leaders
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children's children, but the wealth of the sinner is stored up for the righteous. (Proverbs 13:22)
As a student in 1971, Berthold Becker was converted from being a socialist activist to a disciple of the Lord Jesus. Shortly after completing his university education, Berthold decided he wanted to understand what it meant to experience God in his professional career. So, he learned to walk with God at work in the automotive industry. Berthold testifies how God gave him many designs for cars that became their best-sellers. He was often referred to as the "prophet" among his non-Christian auto executives.
With his wife Barbara as his personal intercessor, Berthold left his career in the auto industry in 1986, to begin many entrepreneurial Kingdom initiatives. One was launched in the Ukraine through an initiative called GfS (Gesellschaft für Strukturentwicklung). Berthold became active in many training, consulting and joint venture situations, helping Ukrainian business start-ups. During his travels there, he noticed the lack of availability of good bread, and he decided to do something about it. He started small businesses using mobile bakeries that he bought from the Swiss Army. The German and Ukranian governments soon recognized that Berthold had been serving the nation through his business expertise and came alongside him to say, "You are doing it better than we can." The governments began
Greetings in the Lord!
Today is the twenty ninth Sunday in ordinary time, five more weeks before we celebrate the Feast of Christ the King. In the past Sunday celebration I shared with you my reflections on the meaning of discipleship that fundamentally demands following Jesus faithfully, lovingly and in full trust and joyful hope for the rewards that Jesus himself had promised. However, like the first disciples who were also frail in their human nature, we are often made to look beyond the real significance of following Jesus as one actively continuing his mission, first as his disciples and then a members of his church. James and John were blinded by what Jesus promised in the gospel read the other Sunday that those who have left everything in order to follow Him and the gospel would be rewarded abundantly, so that they sought in advance places of honor in the Kingdom of God. The gospel reading today gives us a clear response to this human desire for ambition and the response of Jesus is meant for all of us who wish to become his disciples.
Let us go back to the conversation of Jesus and the two sons of Zebedee, James and John. They said “grant that in your glory we may sit one at your right and the other at your left.”
After some exchange this is the first important lesson that He mentioned: “The cup that I drink, you will drink, and the with the baptism with which I am baptized, you will be baptized; but to sit at my right or at my left is not mine to give but ii is for those for whom it has been prepared.” What a clear response to all disciples: the mission of Jesus is to be continued
by all his disciples, including both sufferings and triumphs, but the rewards of disciples which is real and true would only be done in a manner that is worth appreciation from the Heavenly Father. What is this manner? This has also been clearly mentioned by Jesus himself who said: “whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.”
Christian life is discipleship and discipleship is doing the ministry of Jesus which is service to all, especially to the least of our brothers.
My dear brothers and sisters, the gospel readings of the past Sundays are very clear in letting us know what discipleship really entails.
First it demands full knowledge of the person of Jesus, his words, his actions and his very life given for the salvation of humanity. Knowing Jesus fully would lead us to answer his call that Mark has clearly enunciated “Anyone who want to come after me, must deny himself, take up his cross and come after me.”
This was what Jesus repeated in his response to the young man in the gospel last Sunday: “You have done
well, now sell all that you have, give it to the poor and come follow me.” The second is self-denial, emptying oneself in humility and poverty. And the third is following Jesus in filial trust and loving obedience. You will discover that this process is a long and hard, but can only be accomplished with the grace of God, as Jesus himself mentioned that “nothing is impossible with God.” Here enters our need to constantly be in prayer, in dependence on Him, and o being open to the designs of His will for us every day. How can we be of service today?
There are many different ways in serving: in our family, in our neighborhood and community, in our church and in the world today. Look at yourself and see what are your unique abilities and your developed talents that could make you capable in helping others so that they them grow as mature and responsible persons and staunch believers in God and fruitful members of society. The answer to this question, in fact, may only be given by each and every one of us. Nevertheless, what is important is the reason for being of service. I consider two, among so many reasons, which are noble. They are first, for the love of God and the love of our neighbor. We are meant to serve not to satisfy our human aspirations and ambitions, but to fulfill our Christian vocation to follow Jesus and be faithful to his church that continues His saving mission on earth. Once again, let us seek the intercession of Our Lady of the Most Holy Rosary in our desire to be faithful disciples of Jesus in the world today.
Whom
funding his enterprises, while his group remained in control of the business. The Bible says "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession" (Psalm 2:8). I believe one way that will happen is when Christians become the source of blessing to a city or nation.
These enterprises (which include technology transfer and training centers for bread, meat, and dairy products) have become a joint venture with a Ukrainian business group, operating successfully in the food industry.
Today, God is raising up a new breed of Christian leaders. God will use anyone to impact a nation because we are all called to disciple the nations. How might God want to use you in the days ahead? What idea might God give you to impact a nation?
Heavenly Father, I come before Your throne, today, and I speak this blessing upon this congregation: May the Lord keep you and may the Lord make His face to shine upon you; may the Lord be gracious unto you and place His countenance upon you, and may the Lord give you His peace. Lord God, I ask You in the name above every name, that You open up the windows of heaven and pour out divine provision upon every one of your children.
Heavenly Father, in this time of economic peril, let them have the best of things in the worst of times, and let them know that it comes from the divine source of Jehovah Jireh, their provider. I speak health and healing to every physical body. I come against every form of infirmity; I come against every form of disease; I come against every malady in the name of Jesus Christ and I declare that they are cursed at the root and that the blessing of divine health freely flows into the lives of this congregation. Lord, I speak peace to every life that is in torment, for Your name is Jehovah, Shalom, our Peace. I give You praise, Father, that the enemy has been defeated and the peace of God has now healed every broken heart. Every sorrow is lifted right now; every burden and yoke, it is destroyed because You, O Lord, are the Joy in the morning; You, O Lord, are more than enough; You, O Lord, are our strength and our song, and we magnify Your Holy name. I thank You, that You are our Righteousness; You are our Shepherd; You are our divine Giver of life. Let the power of this blessing rest upon you and in you and be imparted by you when you use your words in the authority of Jesus' name. Amen. dhernaez1@aol.com <(((><
Sa ating paglalakbay
sa pansamantala nating buhay Lahat ay makakaranas ng tukso na sa akala natin maganda ang alay
Atin usisain at intindihin ang tunay na pakay Maiwasan ang pagsisisi ang tukso ay talikuaran at iwalay.
Ang tukso ay isang pangakit sa kasalanan Nangangako ng kaligayahan sa paraang labag sa katotohanan
Mga bagay-bagay na makakamtan handog ng kamunduhan Hindi nasasangayon sa mga Dakilang Kautusan.
Hindi lubos na batid ng magnanakaw na ang kanyang ginagawa ay masama Tanging laman ng isip ay siya ay magkakaroon ng pera Ang babaeng nagpapalaglag ng anak sa sinapupunan
BLOOMING
Continued from page 1
The value of Grapes, Wine increased by 36% due to growth in production and acres.
Vegetable & Vine Crops’ value decreased to $89,665,332, a 31% drop from last year. This decrease was mainly due to a 34% drop in the value of Vegetables, Other. However, there was an increase in the value of Squash by 12%. The drop in value for this group is due to decreases in acres.
The value of Nursery & Cut Flower Products dropped by 3% to $1,177,552,435. Other, Cut Flowers & Bulbs had the biggest drop in percentage in this group which was 18%. The drop is due to a decrease in acres and reduced sales.
Last year, the County certified 8,924 shipments of plant material, including fruits and vegetables, to 46 countries. The top issued certificates of goods grown in San Diego and exported in the United States, included: Ornamental Trees & Shrubs, Cacti & Succulents and Tomatoes. County Programs and Services
Hindi pa tao ang turing, maari pang alisin at tuloy mawala ang ala-ala ng isang di-magandang pagsasama.
Alam na alam ng Diyablo ang ating kahinaan dahil sa ating pagkatao Pati ang ating Panginoon noong Siya ay nagkatawang tao Siya inalok ng Kayamanan, Kapangyarihan at Kadakilaang dulot ng Kamunduhan Lahat ng mga ito ay Kanyang tinangihan, harinawa tayo din naman. Kapag ang alok ng tukso ay ating mapaglabanan Lalong tumitibay ang ating buhay sa Pagmamahal, Pagasa at Pananampalataya Kapag naman ating sinundan ang udyok ng tukso Dulot ay pagkakasala, buhay na masalimuot at magulo.
The report provides crop information and highlights the many diverse programs that the County’s Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures (AWM) implements to support the food supply, agricultural trade, public health, consumer confidence and a sustainable environment.
AWM applies state regulatory programs to detect, control and remove harmful insect pests, plant diseases and weeds, which is just one of the many programs the department undertakes and can be read about in the report.
Last year, AWM inspectors stopped 20 snail and slug infestations and 121 plant diseases.
The County also has a Detector Dog Team Program. The dogs checked shipments at parcel facilities and found: 4,695 FedEx, UPS and Ontrac packages.
88 pests that damage crops and landscape plants.
313 packages that were in violation of state pest exclusion laws out of which 44% were incorrectly marked. Pulling Together in an
Tayo ay magpakumbaba at taimtim nating hingin sa Panginoon Pagkalooban tayo ng karagdagang lakas at dunong Labanan natin ang anumang tukso na magiging hadlang Sa ating hangarin na makaabot sa Kanyang Kaharian.
Emergency In 2024, the San Diego region experienced extraordinary rains, flooding events, and mudslides. These events placed heavy burdens on regional communities and local agricultural operations. Regional damage estimates are projected to be $90 million.
AWM took part in Emergency Operations Center meetings to help with regional emergency efforts. Twelve AWM staff worked a total of 674 hours as Disaster Service Workers. AWM performed verification visits to 26 operators who submitted damage reports. These damages totaled $664,000 to livestock and crops, agricultural infrastructure, and lost wages. Many agencies and organizations worked together to ensure a supportive recovery. AWM is honored to be a part of this community and to support San Diego agricultural operations in times of need. The County compiles the Crop Report each year and publishes it online. There is also an integrated Microsoft Translate feature to read the report in many languages.
Fr. Agustin T. Opalalic
Ni Salvador S. Idos
Salvador S. Idos
Danny Hernaez
mentorship programs, from third grade beyond high school.
from students asked to solve math problems,” she explained.
people within free events outside of school were White,” said Nuñez. “I wondered, ‘Why am I the only one like me here?’ I knew 10 other people that would love these programs, but the access is so closed off. A lot of what Compton offered was the support that came from teachers to push the students beyond, regardless of where they came from.”
Overcoming barriers
“You can’t be what you can’t see,” added Daniel Voloch, chief program officer of Girls Who Code. “Early role models and early access works for underserved students. We’re proof.”
Although women represent 50% of STEM workers, slightly higher than their 47% share in the workforce overall, this representation varies dramatically across fields.
While women represent 74% of health practitioners and technicians, for instance, they represent 15% of engineers and architects and 25% of computer workers.
Latina women represent only 5% of computer workers.
Since 2012, Girls Who Code has helped over half a million girls — over half being low-income or of color — through free coding and tech
As a result, the international nonprofit’s students have earned computer science and related degrees at seven times the national average — nine times for those low-income or of color — “and we’re on track to achieve gender parity in entry-level computing jobs by 2030,” said Voloch.
“The future of technology depends on those who are developing it … and we still see so many of our students saying that they are the only, or one of the only, women of color in their computer science classrooms,” he added.
“Noone is immune from implicit bias, and girls and students of color are constantly receiving messages that certain gender or racial groups possess higher mathematical ability than them,” said Dr. Yasemin CopurGencturk, associate professor of teacher education at the University of Southern California (USC).
With a team of USC colleagues, Copur-Gencturk studied whether real differences in student math performance — particularly along racial lines — owes to actual student differences or implicit teacher bias.
“We addressed performance differences by creating experimental situations with no such differences among students, then gathering data
“We then randomly assigned gender- and race-specific names or images to this identical work,” she added. “Teachers didn’t know that they were evaluating the same responses under different names, so any variation in evaluations could be explained by implicit bias.”
Consistently, no bias was found in teachers’ evaluations of student work; students received similar grades regardless of gender or race.
However, teachers perceived that students with male or white-sounding names as having higher mathematical ability than students with female-, Black- or Latino- sounding names, with the most bias directed towards girls of color.
“This suggests that even when teachers acknowledge no difference in student performance, they still perceive differences in potential,” said CopurGencturk. “We also found that math teachers who believed that gender equity had already been achieved tended to contribute more to gender bias.”
“To combat barriers against STEM students of color and girls, we need to address the underlying inequities that uphold these barriers,” she added. “Often, it starts with disbelief that these students face inequity at all.”
PECHANGA RESORT CASINO THE ONLY U.S. RESORT/CASINO ON CONDÉ NAST TRAVELER’S 2024 READERS’ POLL
-- 169 Resorts Rated in the United States. Pechanga Resort Casino Is the Only Casino On the List --
TEMECULA, CA -- With the polls closed and votes tallied, Pechanga Resort Casino outside of Temecula, California came away the clear winner among resort-casinos in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Poll.
Pechanga Resort Casino was the only one of its kind in the entire United States to have been ranked in the prestigious publication’s 2024 poll for the Best Resorts. In the U.S., 169 resorts across 13 regions made it onto Condé Nast Traveler’s sought after list. Pechanga ranked among the top in the Southern California region.
Condé Nast asked its readers online to rate their favorites among the travel industry – resorts, airlines, ski resorts, spas and more. Across the world, 443 resorts ranked in the Best Resorts category of the admired travel publication. Pechanga Resort Casino, owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Mission Indians, ranked on the list of the 169 resorts rated with in the U.S., and more specifically, in Southern California. No casino-resorts in other established gaming areas or California ranked on the resorts list.
“We are beyond grateful to all of
our amazing and loyal guests who voted for Pechanga Resort Casino in this celebrated readers’ poll,” said Ken Perez, President of Pechanga Development Corporation. “Making the list with some of the most prestigious properties in the country is truly and honor and a testament to our wonderful team members at Pechanga and the vision of our Tribe.”
Visitors come to Pechanga Resort Casino from across Southern California, but also from around the world to experience elevated resort/ casino excitement. Guests from Korea, China, Europe, South and Central America plus many other regions of the United States have chosen Pechanga Resort Casino as a destination resort in the last year.
“Pechanga Resort Casino’s singular ranking speaks to the supreme level the Pechanga Tribe sets their hospitality bar,” said Scott A. Wilson, CEO of Visit Temecula Valley. “Every time you set foot inside the expansive resort, it’s incredibly clean and the team members can’t wait to be helpful.
We’re fortunate to have Pechanga as a destination within the Temecula
Valley. Their ranking will further the region’s tourism efforts.”
Temecula Creek Inn, a Pechanga portfolio property, also ranked among the top Southern California choices in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2024 Readers’ Choice Hotels category.
About Pechanga Resort Casino
Pechanga Resort Casino offers one of the largest and most expansive resort/casino experiences anywhere in the United States. Rated a Four Diamond property by AAA since 2002, Pechanga Resort & Casino provides an unparalleled getaway, whether for the day or for an extended luxury stay. Offering 5,500 of the hottest slots, table games, world-class entertainment, 1,100 hotel rooms, dining, spa and golf at Journey at Pechanga, Pechanga Resort Casino features a destination unmatched in California. Pechanga Resort Casino is owned and operated by the Pechanga Band of Indians. For more information, call toll free (877) 7112946 or visit www.Pechanga.com. Follow Pechanga Resort Casino on Facebook, Instagram and on X @PechangaCasino.
Pechanga Resort Casino Resort & Casino Towers with The Cove pool oasis in foreground
Majestic Lions Club celebrates 30th Year Anniversary
A Magical and Majestic Nigth to Remember
The San Diego Majestic Lions Club recently celebrated its 30th Year Anniversary at the Anchors and Spurs Catering with over 200 in attendance compose of its officers and members and valued guests who gallantly don elegant attires befitting kings, queens and disney characters. The San Diego Majestic Club has received the honor of "World Class Centennial Lions Club and Outstanding Club membership.They have etched a solid reputation of serving the community through various projects like Health and Wellness screenings, food distribution, diabetes awareness, childhood cancer awareness, environmental awareness, and International and Medical Missions to the Philippines and beyond. The San Diego Majestic Lions Club was officially chartered on September 9, 1994 whose members include Boodgie Arce, Dr. Ceferina Ruiz, Rose San Pedro and Carmen Labaco . For the Club Officers in 2024-2024, they are namely: Nick Austria, president, Robert Tisnado, 1st vice president, Carmen Labaco, 2nd Vp, Grace Arcedera, secretary, Chris Psillas, treasurer, Rose San Pedro, membership chair , Myrna Psillas, Service Chair, Nanette Brown, LCI Coordinator, Money Cruz, Marketing chair, Gloria Vorac, Program Chair, Natalie Brown, Tail Twister, Juliet Murphy, Lion Tamer, 2 year Board of Directors Napoleon White, Melba Cunanan, Elenor Navales, 1 Year board of directors are Florfina Are, Rebecca Basilio, Rebecca Rayo and Ceferina Ruiz. The captivating night was highlighted with guest singer Alofasau Oliva Porter who is the granddaughter of one of the loyal SD Majestic Lions Club supporter and sponsor, Noveleta "Betty Domdom", a member since 1998. Betty as she is fondly called, brought her family who jointly wishes the club continuous success in serving the less fortunate members of our society through its projects in San Diego and the Philippines. Alofasau, singer, is a second year college student at SDSU. She is the daughter of High Chief Asi Lokeni and Dahlia Porter. Special dance performances were provided by the Jolly Lion Dancers. Inspirational Message by PID Bill Crawford. THE LIONS CLUB CODE of ETHICS are as follow: TO SHOW my faith in the worthiness of my vocation by industrious application to the end that I may merit a reputation for quality of service. TO SEEK success and to demand all fair remuneration or profit as my just due, but to accept no profit or success at the price of my own self respect lost because of unfair advantage taken or because of questionable acts on my part. TO REMEMBER that in building up my business it is not necessary to tear down another's, to be loyal to my clients or customers and true to myself. WHENEVER a doubt arises as to the right or ethics of my position of action towards others, to resolve such doubt against myself. TO HOLD friendship as an end and not a means. To hold that true friendship exists not on account of the service performed by one to another, but that true friendship demands nothing but accepts service in the spirit in which it is given. ALWAYS bear in mind my obligations as a citizen to my nation, my state and my community, and to give them my unswerving loyalty in word, act, and deed. To give them freely of my time, labor and means. TO AID others by giving my sympathy to those in distress, my aid to the weak, and my substance to the needy. TO BE CAREFUL with my criticism and liberal with my praise; to build up and not destroy. (Photos by Zen Ply)
